GOOD NEWS – Tigers Blank Marlins 2–0 to Avoid Series Sweep
DETROIT — On a crisp afternoon at Comerica Park, the Detroit Tigers delivered the kind of bounce-back performance their fans have been waiting for. After dropping the first two games of the series to the Miami Marlins, Detroit responded with a 2–0 shutout on Sunday, halting the slide and reviving their late-season momentum.
Right-hander Reese Olson was the star of the day, spinning seven masterful innings while striking out eight and allowing only three hits. The rookie kept Miami hitters off balance with a precise mix of sinkers and changeups, inducing weak contact and frustrating a lineup that had feasted earlier in the series.
“Reese was outstanding,” manager A.J. Hinch said. “He attacked the strike zone and kept them guessing all afternoon. That’s exactly what we needed after a tough couple of games.”
The Tigers’ offense wasted no time providing support. In the bottom of the first inning, Riley Greene ripped a line-drive double to right-center, then scored on Spencer Torkelson’s sharp single through the left side. That early run allowed Olson to settle in and dictate the pace.
In the fifth, Detroit added insurance when Kerry Carpenter launched a solo home run deep into the right-field seats, his 21st of the season. The blast sent the Comerica crowd into a roar and gave the bullpen a cushion it wouldn’t relinquish.
“It felt great to get that one,” Carpenter said. “We wanted to set the tone and not let this series define us.”
From there, the Tigers’ relief corps sealed the victory. Setup man Jason Foley recorded a clean eighth inning before closer Alex Lange locked down his 26th save with a mix of high-90s fastballs and a biting curve. The shutout marked Detroit’s 11th of the season, underscoring a pitching staff that continues to develop into one of the American League’s most quietly effective groups.
Sunday’s win lifted the Tigers to 78–72, keeping their slim postseason hopes alive and avoiding what would have been a deflating sweep. It also showcased the resilience that has become a hallmark of Hinch’s squad.
“Every game counts,” Torkelson said. “After the first two losses, we had to respond. That’s the kind of baseball we need to play down the stretch.”
The Tigers will need plenty more performances like Olson’s if they hope to make a late push. Upcoming series against division rivals promise little room for error, but the combination of young pitching and timely hitting has given Detroit a foundation for optimism.
Fans at Comerica left the ballpark buzzing, many waving “Go Tigers” banners and chanting the team’s rallying cry long after the final out. For a franchise that has endured a long rebuild, Sunday’s win was more than just a single victory—it was another sign that the Tigers are learning how to win meaningful games in September.
As Hinch summed it up: “We needed a game like this. We pitched, we defended, and we got the big hits. That’s Tigers baseball.”
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